Eagles Drop Game One Pitcher’s Duel

Stevens Ks Nine in Seven, But BC Falls at Miami

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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Boston College baseball team lost its series opener to Miami, 3-0, at Mark Light Field on Friday night.

Eagles’ junior right-hander Jacob Stevens (3-7) Hurricanes’ lefty Jeb Bargfeldt (4-4) went head-to-head on the mound with the home team gaining a slight edge early. Miami got a run in the first and doubled its lead in the third on a solo home run to left by second baseman Willy Escala.

After being robbed on two line-drive, groundball outs, Jake Palomaki picked up a sixth-inning single for his 61st hit of the night. It marked the 200th of his career and his 374th time reaching base as an Eagle.

Stevens struck out nine; his most in ACC play this season, which matched his season-high established against Niagara (3/2).

KEY PLAYS

A leadoff single in the bottom of the first by Freddy Zamora came in to score a batter later on a hit-and-run double to right by Tony Jenkins for Miami.

The Hurricanes added to their lead in the third with a solo home run by Escala. Stevens damage controlled the inning by striking out two and catching a pop-up in front of home plate to leave the bases loaded.

Bargfeldt went back to the hill in the ninth and retired the leadoff man Palomaki, but it was on a sliding catch at the track in right by defensive substitute Hunter Tackett. Palomaki was just 1-for-4 on the night as all three outs were terrific plays by Miami fielders.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Stevens threw a season-high 118 pitches in seven innings of work; his sixth start of six innings or more this season.

Chris Galland was hit by a pitch in the ninth to extend his BC season-best reached base streak to 22 games.

NEXT UP
Game two of the series is set for Friday at 7 p.m. Junior lefty Dan Metzdorf gets the start for the Eagles. The game can be streamed on the ACC Digital Network.